Hall Beach (May 03/04) - Philip Anguratsiaq admits that he has some big shoes to fill when it comes to recreation programs in the community.

Anguratsiaq was recently hired as the new recreation coordinator in Hall Beach.

For the past three months, new recreation programs have breathed new life into the community. Anguratsiaq said his goal is to keep that momentum going.

He said he is looking forward to the challenges ahead of him.

"Recreation is very important for the community. It keeps the body healthy and the mind sharp," he said.

"I want to focus on making the community better," he added.

When it comes to recreation, Anguratsiaq has a lot of experience in the field. For the past two years he has spent most of his time volunteering at the gym. He was also a member of the recreation committee for two years.

As the new recreation director, Anguratsiaq said one of his goals is to focus on the youth of the community.

"There isn't a lot for youth to do. That's when youth get into trouble," he said.

Anguratsiaq said since the new programs started in January, the community has become more involved. He said he wants to see that trend continue.

"It takes the entire community to make these programs work," he said.

A big challenge that faces the Hall Beach recreation department is finding enough funding to run all the programs. Anguratsiaq said with limited resources available, he has to be creative when it comes to finding money.

"I think the key is to be persistent," he said. "You can never give up."